Chapter 10 - The Sovereign of Sunapee
Arthur Vance stepped back frantically toward the helm of the yacht, screaming at his captain. "TURN THE BOAT AROUND! GET US OUT OF HERE! TURN IT AROUND NOW!"
Before the captain could even reach for the throttle levers, the two dark gray US Army Special Forces rigid-inflatable boats that had been hiding behind the eastern point surged forward at forty knots. They sliced across the yacht’s stern, blocking its exit route into the open lake, while four armed tactical divers surfaced directly beside the yacht’s hull, securing titanium climbing ladders over the side rails.
Within thirty seconds, tactical operators breached the vessel, disarming the captain and forcing Arthur Vance onto his knees on the teak deck of his own luxury boat, slamming heavy steel cuffs around his wrists.
The briefcase Vance was carrying popped open on the deck floor, spilling stacks of bearer bonds, offshore trust ledgers, and forged military probate files across the polished wood.
Captain Vance walked down the wooden dock, carrying the recovered files back to Emily, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"All assets recovered, Colonel," Captain Vance reported. "The five-million-dollar trust transfer has been permanently frozen by federal authorities. Vance, Ryan, and your sister will be transferred into federal custody within the hour to face charges of treasonous identity theft, military fraud, and conspiracy."
Emily took the master trust key from the top of the file stack, sliding the cold metal disk into the breast pocket of her camouflage fatigue jacket.
She turned around slowly, walking back up the wooden walkway into the grand sunroom living room of her lake house.
Jessica was still kneeling on the floor near the ruined Persian rug, her eyes red and swollen as she looked up at her older sister in total, pathetic desperation.
"Emily... please..." Jessica sobbed, reaching out her hands. "I’m your sister... your own blood... don't let them take me to prison... please, just give me one more chance..."
Emily stopped three feet from her sister, looking down at her with an icy detachment that was far colder than any battlefield she had ever commanded overseas.
"You declared me dead, Jessica," Emily said, her voice smooth, quiet, and absolutely final. "As far as I'm concerned... your wish came true."
Emily turned her head toward the Military Police officers standing near the doorway. "Take them away."
The officers dragged Ryan and Jessica out through the front oak doors, their frantic screams for mercy fading into the quiet autumn breeze blowing off the lake.
When the house was finally silent, Emily walked over to her heavy olive-drab combat duffel bag resting on the floorboards. She picked it up, slinging it back over her shoulder, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
She looked out over the calm, blue waters of Lake Sunapee, watching the sun reflect off the cedar dock as the tactical boats escorted the seized yacht away into the distance.
May you like
She reached up with a calm, deliberate hand, smoothing down the bright American flag patch on her right shoulder.
Her house was secure. Her name was restored. And the Colonel was finally home.
